First Aid In A Dental Emergency

Many people are trained in first aid, it’s a common skill these days, but do you know what to do in a dental emergency? Imagine this scenario. You’re out bike riding with the gang on a Sunday afternoon when Shelly decides she’s going to try to hop his bike up the curb. She misses and falls, nose first, onto the sidewalk. As she picks herself up, you spy a tooth laying beside her foot on the sidewalk. What are you going to do?We all need to be prepared in the case of an emergency. Dental first aid isn’t complicated. It’s easy to learn and being able to act quickly can help to reduce the severity of a dental emergency or prevent an injury from becoming more serious.

Here’s what to do in a variety of circumstances:

Toothache: Rinse with warm water. Floss to remove any anything that could be be trapped between teeth. If there is any swelling is present, apply a cold compresses to the outside of the cheek. Get to the dentist as soon as you can.

Knocked out tooth: Don’t try to clean the tooth. Instead, keep it damp by putting it in liquid. Milk, saliva, water, or keeping it under your tongue are all good choices. Get to the dentist immediately.

Broken or bruised tooth: Try to clean any dirt away from the injured area with warm water. Apply a cold compress on the face to minimize swelling. Get your patient to the dentist right away. It’s a good idea to check for tooth fragments in the lip or cheek.

Bitten lip or tongue: Stop any bleeding by applying direct pressure. If there is any swelling is present, apply a cold compresses. If the bleeding does not stop or the bite looks severe, head straight to the hospital emergency department.

Objects stuck between teeth: Try using floss to remove the object. Be careful not to cut the gums. Don’t use anything sharp or pointed to try and dislodge the object. If you are unsuccessful, take your patient to the dentist.

Fractured jaw: If you suspect a broken jaw, immobilize it with whatever you may have on hand like a towel, or handkerchief, and get your patient to the hospital emergency room.

Who’s your dental 911?

Dental first aid is important to know so educate yourself as much as possible. It’s a good idea to think through what you’re going to do in an emergency before it happens. That way you’ll be prepared. Knowing what dentist in Los Gatos offers emergency dental care will help you get your patient the care they need fast..